We started with a simple, shared belief: the future of our planet depends on all of us.

We saw a world full of people who cared deeply about the environment but often felt overwhelmed by the scale of the problem. Good intentions got lost in confusing rules and the feeling that one person's actions were just a drop in the ocean.

We knew there had to be a better way!

So, a diverse group of us(Val, Karthik K, Karthik S, Subha and Sathish): tech innovators, community builders, and passionate environmentalists came together. We were brought together not just by a love for the planet, but by a refusal to accept that the problem was too big to solve.
We believe in the power of collective action, and we knew that if we could connect people and simplify sustainability, we could create a tidal wave of change.

EcoPal didn't start in a boardroom. It started with small, everyday actions!

Our founders, Subha and Karthik, were already living the change they wanted to see. Their lives were a collection of conscious choices: faithfully composting and recycling, carrying reusable bags, rescuing food, and even bringing their own plates to large parties to prevent waste. They send just less than 2.6 gallons of trash to the landfill each week!
But they saw a gap between their actions and the actions of those around them. While friends and family were inspired, they often felt overwhelmed, unsure of where to start. It was clear that passion for the planet wasn't enough; people needed a simpler path!

Just as they were wrestling with this challenge, an opportunity appeared: Rethink Recycling Hack-a-thon, a city-wide challenge announced by Cintrifuse and the City of Cincinnati. It was the perfect moment to turn a personal mission into a public solution! They participated, channeling their practical experience into a powerful idea: a tool that could educate and empower consumers on local recycling practices.

And they won!!

That award-winning idea was the spark that created EcoPal.